The good news, I guess, is that we’re all pretty much done with those floppy, bubble-ridden screen protectors we still get for free with our iPhone cases. At least we should be. You’ve got glass options now, which go on better, look better, and feel better in use. Here, we’re going to look at the mPact Glass screen protector from designed by m.

The mPact Glass was designed to answer the call for screen protection by users of designed by m’s AL13, one of our favorite aluminum bumpers for iPhone 5. The problem with bumpers, however, is they leave your screen open to damage. The mPact Glass solves that problem.

Cut from a single sheet of glass, the mPact Glass is is more rigid that standard screen protectors, making it easier to apply. Still, to make sure you get it right, designed by m includes an alcohol wipe to clear your screen, dust removal stickers to pull away any dust particles that may land on the screen or the glass during the application process, and a small rigid card to smooth away any bubbles as you lay the glass on the screen.

I also recommend washing your hands right before you apply the glass, as that’ll make sure you don’t get any greasy fingerprints under the edges.

If bubbles do appear or your alignment is off, you can lift the mPact Glass to reapply. I had to do this a couple times, once because a dust particle found its way onto the iPhone screen. I pulled the glass halfway up, captured the dust with the sticker, and laid the glass back down for a perfect installation. Designed by m does warn that removing the glass weakens the adhesive, so try to get it right the first time, and you won’t want to remove it once it’s firmly in place.

Our review unit also came with two epoxy coated home buttons (which I didn’t deem necessary) and two back protectors—one clear and one with a bit of a brushed look that does a better job of hiding fingerprints. Whether you’re buying this to work with the AL13 or pretty much any third-party case, designed by m has your phone covered.

The fit is incredibly precise, leading right to the edge of your iPhone’s screen. The edges of the mPact Glass are chamfered for a comfortable grip, and also to allow compatibility with many third-party cases that lip over the iPhone’s edge.

When your iPhone is under the mPact Glass, you’ll be hard pressed to know there’a anything there. It’s incredibly thin, ensuring the touchscreen remains responsive and to allow your iPhone display to remain bright and clear, even with the anti-glare and UV coating.

It’s also antibacterial, for those afraid of such things. Personally, I’m more afraid of iPhone damage, and that’s where the mPact Glass proves most useful. The glass is three times stronger than that of the competitors, according to designed by m, but that doesn’t mean it’s shatterproof. In fact, it’s not supposed to be; it’ll break so your iPhone screen doesn’t. However, a shatterproof film on the glass prevents sharp cracks should the glass break, meaning you can continue using the phone until a replacement glass is applied. Cracked protection is better than no protection, after all.

$30.00 may seem like a lot on top of what you’ve already paid for your iPhone case or bumper, but consider that this is a one time investment. Whereas you may swap cases, the mPact Glass will likely remain in place until you upgrade phones, or until you shatter it in an accident. In that case, though, that $30.00 investment was really worth it.

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